Volvo Cars has announced that the new Volvo XC90 will come with a larger, more efficient multi-filter to improve air quality inside the car. This is part of Volvo’s CleanZone initiative to control interior air quality and provide a better driving environment through innovative solutions. The multi-filter was designed especially for the SPA platform, which the new XC90 sits on and features a larger design that filters more particulates and pollen. The filter also gets a layer of active charcoal that effectively removes a host of contaminants that can impact the health of drivers.

Tests have proven that with the new multi-filter, as much as 70% of “fine dust” particles smaller than 0,4 μm can be kept away against a car without the filter. Apart from the filter, Volvo’s state-of-the-art Interior Air Quality System (IAQS) also has another element, a sensor that monitors the incoming air for noxious substances. The sensor will make the car’s air intakes to close automatically if it detects high level of harmful substances. Together, the multi-filter and sensor keep out a number of harmful and irritating pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, ground-level ozone, gases and unpleasant odours.

“Up to 45 per cent of the industrialised world’s population is now suffering from some form of allergy or hypersensitivity. Over ten per cent has asthma. At Volvo, our commitment to safety goes well beyond safety belts and air bags. It’s about making sure that every minute you and your family spend in a Volvo is as safe as it can possibly be. That includes breathing,” says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development. “With this filter we are now at the forefront of the industry in terms of particle separation.”